Best Albums of the Decade

Just what will we call this soon to be passing decade? The "Os"? Like O-9? That's what I usually call it- "back in O-6...."

So with the decade closing out I wanted to send out a request for Best Albums of the Decade. I realize just trying to think of that might give you a headache, but just start by listing any that come to mind, it doesn't have to be a top ten list or anything like that. Here's some of mine and I will add some later.

as you may note, this list is decidedly "Indie" rock.

TV On The Radio- "Return To Cookie Mountain"and "Dear Science"- a fascinating band that is really pushing boundaries without forgetting to rock, an American Radiohead if you will.The National "Boxer"- an album with surprising depth despite sounding very one dimensional at first. They were channeling something with this one.Deerhunter- "Microcastle"- what pop music should be in the "Os" if the radio stations played anything worth listening to. This band was my favorite discovery of the past 2 years. Check out the sister band Atlas Sound as well.The Shins- "Wincing The Night Away"- this album didn't get as much love as "Chutes Too Narrow" but in my book it has much more depth and finds it way to my turntable twice as often.Yo La Tengo- "And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out"- this album just barely made the decade but it deserves to be on this list. It took me a while to get into it but I now see it as the band's high water mark and probably the best album made by a married couple around the theme of their relationship.Amy Winehouse "Back To Black"- a classic despite the hypeDirty Projectors- "Bitte Orca"- I usually don't go for "weird" stuff like this but this is such a great record I really had to add it to the list.Spoon- "Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga"- really changed how I think about recordingSufjan Stevens- "Illinois"- a masterpiece all aroundBright Eyes- "I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning"- emo grows up and writes great songs.Radiohead- "Hail To The Thief" and "In Rainbows"- they were really the band of the decade in my eyesFleet Foxes- "Fleet Foxes"- I think this album will endure and grow in respect over time, timeless stuff.The Strokes- "Is This It"- an undeniable classic, every song should have been a hit.Of Montreal- "Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?" - This is probably my favorite record from the decade at this point.

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As promised here's the annotated version of my list. Thanks, Jeb, for inspiring me to waste more time than I could afford on this!

Who Needs Electricity? by Operation: Cliff Clavin [2000] — Acoustic anarcho-primitivist folkpunk from Bloomington, Indiana. O:CC was one of my favorite punk bands of all time, and this is sort of an "unplugged" version of their own previously released originals — but framed as the future of rock after the collapse of civilization and attendant loss of ubiquitous electrical power. And in fact the sound of this album was indicative of the future direction Chris and Hannah would take with Ghost Mice. I think you can still get this for five bucks from Plan-It-X. Remember, if it ain't cheap it ain't punk.

Blazing Arrow by Blackalicious [2002] — Just the coolest hip-hop album ever. I'm really not sure how I first heard this music, but as soon as I heard it, I had to buy the album. Pitchfork calls it "unstoppably joyous" and it truly is.

The Ghastly Grimey Orchestra of New Orleans by The Ghastly Grimey Orchestra of New Orleans [2002] — A freaky folky experimental project from New Orleans, inspired by Edward Gorey. I had to special order this from Dublin, strangely enough. I discovered this one through random googling and became fascinated by the story behind the album. It seems a bunch of freaks hanging out in (pre-Katrina) New Orleans decided to record one song for each letter in the Gashlycrumb Tinies. They recorded each track with a different roster of musicians in different locations around town. One track was recorded in a moving elevator at Nowe Miasto, passing by musicians on different floors. Bizarre, obscure, dark, and awesome. Learn more, see a video, and get this album from Stitchy Press.

1 by Popchor Berlin [2002] — Poppy cover songs done by a choir in Berlin. There are only five songs on this EP but they range from damn good to transcendentally brilliant. Thanks to Liza for turning me on to them.

IAO (Music in Sacred Light) by John Zorn [2002] — Avant-garde ritualistic experimentalism that pushes all the right buttons for me. A more thoughtful review can be found on All About Jazz.

Wölfl Piano Sonatas by Jon Nakamatsu [2003] — What's an album of classical piano pieces doing here? Thanks to Brian Denzer for turning me on to this. He played some of this on WTUL one morning many years ago. For what it's worth, Fanfare gives this "absolutely the highest recommendation."

Here Comes the Troublemakers by The Troublemakers [2004] — Superb, ska-inflected pop-rock that combines anarchy, romance and fun. Includes such fabulous anthems as "International Flag-Burning Day" and "Emma Goldman," zany fun songs like "Opposite Machine," and sweet ballads such as "Never Be Alone." Buy this one from Louisiana Music Factory before they run out. Trust me on this one.

Super Heavy Organ by Robert Walter [2005] — Funky jazzy instrumental organ recorded live in New Orleans. Walter was playing in Bloomington, Indiana, just days after Katrina. I'd evacuated there, so I talked my way into the concert, which is where I picked up this album.

Satanische Vrede by Silvester Anfang [2006] — Dark droning experimental psychedelic Belgian free-folk. I find their sound absolutely mind-blowing in a subtle, insidious way. They self-describe as "post-satanic krautfolk," and that seems pretty accurate. This album is out of print, but you can get a sample MP3 from Kraak.

Closing out the decade: At approximately 10 AM CST I'll be playing through the thirteen best albums released in the Aughts. Listen at http://radio.rox.com/ Should take until 8 PM. Enjoy! Let me know what you think & by all means feel free to dispute my choices.

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